IT IS ALL TO PLAY FOR AS FORMULA E HEADS TO THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF MONACO
The 2022–23 Formula E World Championship has reached the halfway mark. Eight races completed, eight to go, and Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy is just four points off the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
It is game on as the team heads to the unique and glamorous principality of Monte Carlo for the Monaco E-Prix.
For the sixth time, Formula E will do its thing on the storied streets of Monaco, arguably the most famous venue in the world of motorsport. And for the third time, the drivers will use the same 3.3km layout designated for Formula One competition.
The 2023 Monaco E-Prix will be the second time Cassidy has competed in Formula E machinery on the circuit. In both his appearances, the Kiwi has come home a creditable eighth and seventh, and will be looking to bank big points, and ideally make it two wins on the bounce.
Cassidy’s Envision Racing team-mate Sébastien Buemi will be looking to draw on some scintillating previous form at the Monaco E-Prix. The Swiss champion has triumphed twice on the shorter circuit layout, and after a mixed weekend last time out in Berlin, will look to get his title challenge back on track.
THE MONACO CHALLENGE
Monaco is synonymous with motorsport. This is thanks to its continual place on the Formula One calendar since 1950, with the first ever Grand Prix being hosted in 1929, and the fact it sits on the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean Sea, crammed in by mountains between the French and Italian borders.
The latest GEN3 machines will be a spectacular sight on the full Grand Prix layout as they negotiate famous and evocative corners such as La Rascasse, Casino Square and the Grand Hotel Hairpin.
A major factor will be energy management. Monaco is one of the most undulating circuits on the Formula E calendar, with the climb from the first corner up the by Mirabeau and the descent into Casino Square and around the Grand Hotel Hairpin, offering a challenge to the GEN3 power units throughout the E-Prix.
The long stretch through the world-famous tunnel and the stretch along the harbour front and the multi-million dollar yachts will call upon all the driver’s skills as well as the team’s back in the pits to craft the optimum strategy.
Last year’s race was a classic with multiple overtakes. With just 32 points covering the top six, and 25 points available for a win, this weekend will be key for the championship frontrunners. The focus will have to be on securing a good qualifying spot, as overtaking isn’t always easy, and there will be plenty of time to party on the yachts and swanky clubs dotted throughout the principality when the big points are in the bag.
Drivers’ standings (after Rd 8):
1. Pascal Wehrlein, 100pts
2. Nick Cassidy, 96pts
3. Jean-Éric Vergne, 81pts
4. Jake Dennis, 80pts
5. Mitch Evans, 76pts
8. Sébastien Buemi, 57pts
Teams’ standings (after Rd 8):
1. Porsche Formula E Team, 168pts
2. Envision Racing, 153pts
3. Jaguar Racing, 138pts
4. DS Penske, 107pts
5. Avalanche Andretti, 103pts
LAST TIME OUT
What a weekend it was in Berlin.
On the unforgiving concrete of the apron at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, both Envision Racing drivers showed front-running pace, with Nick Cassidy pulling off a masterclass to win the second race of the weekend.
Before Cassidy sprayed the champagne on Sunday afternoon, there was plenty of drama. On Saturday, for the weekend’s first race in the German capital, Sébastien Buemi claimed a brilliant pole position, and ran at the front all race only to end up fourth. Just behind came Cassidy. The Envision Racing man did superbly to fight back from early race problems, and recover from a mid-race pit-stop to repair damage to come from last to fifth.
For the second race of the weekend, there would be no such problems for the man from Auckland. This time Cassidy soared from eighth on the grid to combine a clever energy-saving strategy with decisive overtakes to lead when others were fearful to do so and hold off a strong challenge from Jake Dennis to claim his second win in Formula E.
HOW AND WHERE TO WATCH (ALL TIMES BST)
06 May Free Practice 1 – 06:25 – 07:15
06 May Free Practice 2 – 08:05 – 08:55
06 May Qualifying – 09:40 – 10:50
06 May Race – 14:03 – 15:30
Follow Envision Racing here as they look to continue fighting at the front in Formula E in 2023.